by Amber Kallyn
A soft knock came, and Jenny Cameron stuck her head in. “Captain wants to see you.”
Celeste nodded and went to his office, a thick, dark fog separating her from the world.
Captain Michaels stood when she entered. “Congratulations,” he beamed.
“Yeah.”
“The reports have been filed. Not much of a cover-up, since we have the evidence of this person, Kyle, as well as witnesses to his crimes.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Wulfgar has taken care of it all. He brought in the witnesses this morning. Wrapped up everything else for you. The reports are in the conference room for you to go over. Fix anything you need to, but keep in mind, any hint of the reality of the supernatural probably won’t go over well.” Michaels looked at her, studying her. “Are you all right, Celeste?”
Stunned, reeling from the fact Brandon had done it all and now there was no need to see her again, she just nodded. “Better get to work then.”
In a daze, she rose and, ignoring everyone in the main office, headed for the conference room. She opened the door, then froze, unable to breathe.
Brandon stood on the far side, staring at the white board she’d wrote notes on.
Gathering every last shred of her courage, she walked inside and shut the door.
He turned, his blue eyes unreadable.
“Hi,” she said through her closed throat.
“Hello.”
“I didn’t think you’d be here. I thought...”
“What did you think?”
“That you left. Went home.”
His face tightened, his gaze burned with anger. “You believed I’d just walk out?”
She fidgeted, dropping her gaze to the floor. “You weren’t there when I woke up.”
“I was trying to finish things up for you. I received a call from my home. My brother is finally recovering from his problems. In fact, he’s been sent on an assignment, kind of like I was. I no longer have anywhere I must be.” He hesitated, then softly said, “I wanted to ask you to take a vacation. You and Hercules. Come somewhere with me.”
She jerked her head up, staring at his smile.
“This between us needs more exploration,” he said, taking a step towards her.
A burning lump crawled up her chest, but the pain began to recede. Time froze as she stood there, seeing two choices.
Her life had been lonely. As a cop, she loved her work. But work had been everything.
This man, and the love she felt for him, was giving her the option to live more fully. Become part of something more than herself.
Her decision made, she closed the distance between them.
His arms opened and she moved into his embrace, pressing her mouth to his, and kissing him with everything she felt in her heart.
“I don’t know where this will lead, but I love you too,” she whispered against his lips.
He groaned, hugging her tighter. “We have all the time in the world to figure it out, darling.”
And she knew he’d make sure they did.
epilogue
Celeste stretched languidly on the bed, watching the breeze stir the sheer curtains hanging from the sides. Through the wall made of glass, the sun rose, shining multi-colored hues on the ocean lapping at the beach. Hercules lay in front of one of the windows in a spot of warm sunlight.
She’d never been one to take vacations, but as she turned in Brandon’s arms, filled with the overwhelming urge to nibble on him, she realized all that had been missing in her life.
All that he’d brought her.
And while she could live without it, she knew now she never wanted to.
“Good morning.” His voice rumbled with satisfaction.
She kissed him softly, drinking in his scent, his taste.
“I’ve decided,” she whispered.
“Have you now?”
“I can still be a cop, right?”
“It’ll take time for you to get used to the changes, control your hunger. But then, yes.”
“You’ll be with me?” she asked, staring into his drowning blue gaze.
His lips curled into his now familiar grin. “Always, my love. Always.”
She studied him, hearing the truth in his words, feeling his love. A thousand-year-old warrior, and only she could bring him to his knees.
Raising her chin, she bared her neck.
He rolled them, until she lay on her back on the bed. “You’re certain? There’s no going back.”
“I don’t want to go back,” she assured him. “I want you.”
His eyes flared and he kissed her, deep and hard and fast. He pressed his lips to her jaw, licked down her neck to her speeding pulse.
As his fangs sank into her skin and he drank, she didn’t feel the cold of approaching death, but the heat of his love.
And she knew she’d made the right choice.
His, forever.
***
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed your time with Niki and Shane as much as I did. If you liked this book, would you please go to Amazon and leave a review for me? Reviews are what helps authors sell more books, which in turn means I get to keep writing more for you.
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about the author
One of those rare breeds, Amber Kallyn is an Arizona native who can trace her family's history through six generations in the state. She lives with her four very active children. Included in the menagerie are four cats (though there's always room for more) and a snake.
Amber loves the paranormal, from dragons to werewolves to vampires. She's currently at work on her next book, probably running around the house acting out a fight scene with her collection of swords and daggers. Or maybe, wishing she had claws to practice the other fight scenes.
A voracious lover of the written word, Amber found at an early age that she could read fast. Really fast. She devours novels by the day, novellas by the hour, and is always looking to get her hands on more.
Titles by Amber Kallyn
(Paranormal Romance)
Heart of a Vampire
Bloodstorm
Hungerstorm
Darkstorm
Magicstorm
(Erotic Paranormal Romance)
The Dragos Series
Dragos 1: Burned
Dragos 1.5: Mistletoe
Dragos 2: Scorched
Dragos 3: Blazed
Dragos 4: Inflamed
Red’s Wolf (Short story series)
Volume 1: Beginnings
Volume 2: Changes
Volume 3: Obsessions
For free goodies and stories, visit my website at
www.AmberKallyn.com
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